U.S. patent application number 12/268814 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for port closure system with hydraulic hammer resistance.
This patent application is currently assigned to Liquid Molding Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to David J. Gaus.
Application Number | 20100116371 12/268814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42164090 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100116371 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gaus; David J. |
May 13, 2010 |
PORT CLOSURE SYSTEM WITH HYDRAULIC HAMMER RESISTANCE
Abstract
A port closure system (20) including a port structure (22), and
a valve (24). The port structure (22) includes a port (28) for
establishing communication between an exterior environment (30) and
interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance. The valve
(24) includes a flexible, resilient, self-closing, slit-type valve
head (36) with an orifice that is normally closed in an
unconstrained condition. The port (28) has a laterally inwardly
facing engaging surface (34) and the valve has a laterally
outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) that is compressed
laterally inwardly by engagement with the surface (34) to increase
the resistance of the normally closed orifice to opening when the
head (36) is subjected to a pressure differential.
Inventors: |
Gaus; David J.; (Saginaw,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET, SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Assignee: |
Liquid Molding Systems,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
42164090 |
Appl. No.: |
12/268814 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/855 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K 15/147 20130101;
Y10T 137/7895 20150401; Y10T 137/7891 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/855 |
International
Class: |
F16K 15/14 20060101
F16K015/14 |
Claims
1. A port closure system with hydraulic hammer resistance, said
system comprising: a port to establish communication between an
interior volume that can receive a fluent substance and an exterior
environment, the port having a laterally inwardly facing engaging
surface; and a valve including a flexible, resilient head extending
across the port, the head having: an interior side facing the
interior volume; an exterior side facing the exterior environment;
at least one self-sealing slit through the head; confronting,
openable portions along the slit to define a normally closed
orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable portions
can move in a first direction toward the interior volume to an open
orifice configuration and in a second direction toward the exterior
environment to an open orifice configuration; and a laterally
outwardly facing peripheral surface compressed laterally inwardly
by engagement with the engaging surface to thereby impose a closing
force on said self-sealing slit to increase the resistance of the
normally closed orifice to opening in at least the second direction
when the valve head is subjected to a pressure differential acting
across the valve head.
2. The port closure system of claim 1 wherein the interior side is
defined by a convex surface.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the convex surface is arcuate.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the exterior side is defined by a
concave surface.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the concave surface is
arcuate.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein the concave surface is
semispherical.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one self-sealing slit
comprises two self-sealing slits extending transverse to each
other.
8. The system of 7 wherein one of the two slits is more than 50%
longer than the other of the two slits.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the engaging surface is a
cylindrical surface with a diameter D and the laterally outwardly
facing peripheral surface is a frusto-conical surface in the
unconstrained condition.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the frusto-conical surface has a
maximum diameter adjacent the interior side that in the
unconstrained condition is greater than the diameter D.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the valve further comprises a
peripheral attachment portion and the frusto-conical surface
converges from the maximum diameter to a minimum diameter adjacent
the peripheral attachment portion.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve is initially separate
from, but subsequently engaged with the engaging surface.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a seat around the
port and wherein the valve further comprises a peripheral
attachment portion engaged in said seat.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said seat is located outside of
the interior volume.
15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a retainer ring in
snap-fit engagement with said seat to clamp the peripheral
attachment portion between the retainer ring and the seat.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein the laterally outwardly facing
peripheral surface extends from the interior side to the peripheral
attachment portion.
17. A port closure system with hydraulic hammer resistance, said
system comprising: a port structure including a port for
establishing communication between (1) an interior volume that can
receive a fluent substance, and (2) an exterior environment, said
port including an laterally inwardly facing engaging surface; and a
valve that is disposed across said port and that has: (1) a
peripheral attachment portion; and (2) a flexible, resilient head
that extends from said peripheral attachment portion, and that has
(a) an interior side, (b) an exterior side interfacing with said
exterior environment, (c) at least one self-sealing slit through
said head, (d) a laterally peripheral surface, (e) confronting,
openable portions along said slit to define an initially closed
orifice wherein said valve head openable portions can move
generally in a first direction toward said interior volume to an
open configuration and wherein said valve head openable portions
can also move generally in a second direction toward said exterior
environment to an open configuration, (f) an initial, manufactured
configuration in which said valve orifice is closed; and wherein
said valve head is disposed in said port structure to locate said
laterally peripheral surface of said valve head in engagement with,
and compressed laterally inwardly by, said engaging surface of said
port structure to thereby impose stress on said valve head to
increase the resistance of said valve orifice to opening at least
in said second direction when said valve head is subjected to a
pressure differential acting across said valve head.
18. The system in accordance with claim 17 in which said valve is
initially separate from, but subsequently attachable to, said port
structure across said port; and said port structure defines a seat
around said port for receiving said value peripheral attachment
portion in a seated engagement.
19. The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said system
further includes a retainer ring in snap-fit engagement with said
port structure to clamp said valve between said retainer ring and
said seat.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[0003] Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates generally to a system for
accommodating the flow of a fluent substance. The invention more
particularly relates to a port closure system having a flexile,
resilient valve and accommodating the flow of the fluent substance
through the valve.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The inventor of the present invention has discovered that it
would be advantageous to provide an improved system for retaining
or otherwise mounting a flexible, resilient valve defining an
initially closed orifice which can be opened to accommodate fluid
flow through the valve, wherein the design of the system could
provide advantages not heretofore contemplated in the industry or
suggested by the prior art. In particular, the system of the
present invention facilitates proper closing of the valve after
portions of the valve have been forced away from their initially
closed configuration and is resistant to hydraulic hammer caused by
a fluent substance acting against the valve.
[0006] One type of flexible, resilient, valve is a self-closing,
slit-type valve mounted in a port of a fluent container. Such
valves have a slit or slits which define a normally closed orifice
that opens to permit flow therethrough in response to either a
probe or fill/drain tool inserted through the valve, or an
increased pressure differential across the valve (e.g., resulting
from an increased pressure within the container when the container
is squeezed, or from a reduced external ambient pressure compared
to the pressure within the container). Such valves are typically
designed so that they automatically close to shut off flow
therethrough upon removal of the probe or fill/drain tool or a
reduction of the increased internal pressure within the container,
or upon an increase of the external pressure.
[0007] Designs of such valves and of closures using such valves are
illustrated in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,531, No. 5,927,566, and No.
5,934,512. Typically, the closure includes a body or base mounted
on the container neck to define a seat for receiving the valve and
includes a retaining ring or other structure for holding the valve
on the seat in the base. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,986
and No. 6,616,016. The valve is normally closed and can withstand
the weight of the fluid product when the bottle is completely
inverted so that the liquid will not leak out unless the bottle is
squeezed. With such an improved system, the lid or cap need not be
re-closed (although it is typically re-closed if the package is to
be transported to another location, packed in a suitcase, etc.).
Another such valve system for use with a probe or fill/drain tool
is shown in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/070,799 titled VALVE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY WITH SLIT MISALIGNMENT
PREVENTION FEATURE, filed Feb. 21, 2008 and naming David J. Gaus as
inventor, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0008] While such valved systems have significant advantages and
function well, it would be desirable to provide an improved system
that would better accommodate more rugged handling or abuse with a
reduced risk of leaking. Specifically, when one of the
above-described type of valved containers are dropped, knocked over
or other wise impacted, the fluid in the container may impact the
valve with such force that the valve may momentarily open, and a
small amount of liquid may be discharged. Such accelerated,
transient, hydraulic pressure effects are sometimes described as a
hydraulic hammer or water hammer.
[0009] It would be beneficial to provide an improved valve port
closure system which eliminates or greatly minimizes the tendency
of the valve to open when the fluent container is subjected to
hydraulic hammer such as when the container is tipped over,
dropped, or otherwise subjected to a sudden impact such as when the
user sets the container down on a surface with force and
impact.
[0010] One approach to provide a valve with hydraulic hammer
resistance is shown in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/728,614 titled "DISPENSING VALVE WITH HYDRAULIC HAMMER
RESISTANCE" and filed on Mar. 27, 2007 naming David J. Gaus et al
as inventors, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference. While the valve shown in the Ser. No. 11/728,614
works well for its intended purpose, there is always room for other
approaches and improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The inventor of the present invention has invented an
innovative port closure system for a fluent container which, inter
alia, can provide an improved resistance to hydraulic hammer.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a port
closure system hydraulic hammer resistance, and includes (1) a port
to establish communication between an interior volume that can
receive a fluent substance and an exterior environment, and (2) a
valve including a flexible, resilient head extending across the
port. The valve head has (a) an interior side facing the interior
volume, (b) an exterior side facing the exterior environment, (c)
at least one self-sealing slit through the head, and (d)
confronting, openable portions along the slit to define a normally
closed orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable
portions can move in a first direction toward the interior volume
to an open orifice configuration and in a second direction toward
the exterior environment to another open orifice configuration. The
port has a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface; and the
valve further includes a laterally outwardly facing peripheral
surface compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the
engaging surface to thereby impose a closing force on said
self-sealing slit to increase the resistance of the normally closed
orifice to opening in at least the second direction when the valve
head is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the
valve head.
[0013] In one aspect, the interior side of the head is defined by a
convex surface. As a further aspect, the convex surface is
arcuate.
[0014] According to one aspect, the exterior side is defined by a
concave surface. In a further aspect, the concave surface is
arcuate, and in yet a further aspect the concave surface is
semispherical.
[0015] As one aspect, the at least one self-sealing slit includes
two self-sealing slits extending transverse to each other. In a
further aspect, one of the two slits is more than 50% longer than
the other of the two slits.
[0016] According to one aspect, the engaging surface is a
cylindrical surface with a diameter D and the laterally outwardly
facing peripheral surface is a frusto-conical surface in the
unconstrained condition. In a further aspect, the frusto-conical
surface has a maximum diameter adjacent the interior side that in
the unconstrained condition is greater than the diameter D. In yet
a further aspect, the valve further includes a peripheral
attachment portion and the frusto-conical surface converges from
the maximum diameter to a minimum diameter adjacent the peripheral
attachment portion.
[0017] As one aspect, the valve is initially separate from, but
subsequently engaged with the engaging surface. In a further
aspect, the system further includes a seat around the port and the
valve further includes a peripheral attachment portion engaged in
said seat. In yet a further aspect, the seat is located outside of
the interior volume. In one aspect, the system further includes a
retainer ring in snap-fit engagement with the seat to clamp the
peripheral attachment portion between the retainer ring and the
seat.
[0018] According to one aspect, the laterally outwardly facing
peripheral surface extends from the exterior side to the peripheral
attachment portion.
[0019] The port closure of the present invention is particularly
suitable for mounting a valve in dispensing apparatus wherein
relative movement between the valve and an inserted conduit or
probe causes portions of the valve head to open to accept the probe
so that the probe extends through the valve. In one particular use
of the invention, such a probe is a fluid inlet conduit employed to
fill a fluid container such as a cup or mug.
[0020] The port closure system of the present invention can be
positioned relative to an associated container (or other structure
containing a fluent substance) by various arrangements. In
particular, the port closure system may be permanently or
releasably attached to the container (or other structure containing
a fluent substance). Furthermore, the valve of the port closure
system of the invention can be provided in a form which is
initially separate from, but subsequently attachable to or retained
within, the port closure system of the invention.
[0021] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention, from the claims, and from the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In the accompanying drawings forming part of the
specification, in which like numerals are employed to designate
like parts throughout the same,
[0023] FIG. 1 is an isometric view from above of a fluid container
in the form of a cup that incorporates a port closure system
embodying the present invention, with a flexible, resilient valve
of the closure system shown in a closed position;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an isometric, exploded view of the cup and port
closure system of FIG. 1 showing the valve in an as-molded
condition wherein the valve is unconstrained and also showing a
retainer component of the system removed from a port structure of
the system;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a section view taken from line 3-3 in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG.
3;
[0027] FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG.
4;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the port
closure system with the valve placed in an open condition by a
fluent filling tool or probe that is inserted into the port closure
system to provide fluid to the interior volume of the
container;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the fill tool
not shown in order to more clearly illustrate the valve in the open
condition;
[0030] FIG. 7 is an enlarged isometric view of an embodiment of the
valve of FIG. 1 showing an interior facing side of the valve in a
closed state with the valve in an as-molded, unconstrained
condition;
[0031] FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of the valve of FIG. 7
showing an exterior facing side of the valve, again with the valve
in the closed state in the unconstrained condition;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the valve in
an open state;
[0033] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but again showing the
valve in an open state;
[0034] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the valve of FIG. 7, showing the
valve in the closed state and unconstrained condition;
[0035] FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line 12-12 in FIG.
11;
[0036] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the
valve of FIG. 1 in a closed state and as-molded, unconstrained
condition; and
[0037] FIG. 14 is an elevation view of the valve of FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0038] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings
disclose only one specific form as an example of the invention. The
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment so
described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in
the appended claims.
[0039] As discussed in detail hereinafter, the port closure system
of the present invention can be used to mount a valve in a fluid
handling system, including in an associated container or other
dispensing structure so as to accommodate transfer of fluent
substances including, but not limited to, water, beer, or other
fluids suitable for consumption.
[0040] Notably, the present invention port closure system is
especially suitable for use with the type of flexible, resilient
valve that includes a peripheral attachment portion of the valve
and a central valve head (which is often openable in either of two
opposite directions).
[0041] For ease of description, many of the figures illustrating
the invention show one form of a valve held in one embodiment of
the present invention port closure system in one typical
orientation that the port closure system may have in a particular
application, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are
used with reference to this orientation. It will be understood,
however, that the port closure system of this invention may be
manufactured, stored, transported, sold, and used in an orientation
other than the orientation described.
[0042] The port closure system of the present invention may be used
with a variety of conventional or special fluent substance handling
and/or holding systems, including glass or plastic bottles,
flexible tubular containment structures, containers, tanks,
vessels, and other equipment or apparatus, the details of which,
although not fully illustrated or described, would be apparent to
those having skill in the art and an understanding of such systems.
The particular fluent substance handling or holding system, per se,
forms no part of, and therefore is not intended to limit, the broad
aspects of the present invention. It will also be understood by
those of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious inventive
aspects are embodied in the described exemplary valve mounting
system alone.
[0043] A presently preferred embodiment of the port closure system
is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and is designated generally by the
number 20. The system 20 is illustrated in connection with a fluent
container in the form of a beverage cup 21. As best seen in FIGS. 2
and 3, the system 20 includes a port structure 22, a valve 24, and
a mounting fitment or retainer 26. The port structure 22 includes a
port 28 for establishing communication between an exterior
environment 30 and interior volume 32 that can receive a fluent
substance such as a beverage. As best seen in FIG. 4, the port 28
has a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface 34 that is
preferably cylindrical with a diameter D.
[0044] The valve 24 is a self-closing, slit-type valve and can be
seen in greater detail in FIGS. 7-14. The valve 24 is preferably
molded as a unitary structure from material which is flexible,
pliable, elastic, and resilient. This can include elastomers, such
as a synthetic, thermosetting polymer, including silicone rubber,
such as the silicone rubber sold by Dow Corning Corp. in the United
States of America under the trade designation SILASTIC 99-595-HC.
Another suitable silicone rubber material is sold in the United
States of America under the designation Wacker 3003-40 by Wacker
Silicone Company. Both of these materials have a hardness rating of
40 Shore A. The valve 24 could also be molded from other
thermosetting materials or from other elastomeric materials, or
from thermoplastic polymers or thermoplastic elastomers, including
those based upon materials such as thermoplastic propylene,
ethylene, urethane, and styrene, including their halogenated
counterparts.
[0045] The valve 24 has a normally closed, rest position or
configuration shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The valve 24 can be forced
to one or more open positions or configurations, as shown in FIGS.
5, 6, 9 and 10 when a sufficiently high force acts on the valve 24
as described hereinafter. The valve 24 includes a flexible, central
portion or head 36 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) that extends across the port
28, with a first or exterior side 38 and a second or interior side
40. When the valve 24 is closed, the interior side 40 has a surface
that is convex and arcuate in shape, and the exterior side 38 has a
surface that is concave and arcuate in shape and preferably
semispherical. In this regard, while preferred forms of the head 36
are shown herein, it should be understood that other
configurations, such as for example those shown in aforementioned
U.S. patent Ser. Nos. 11/728,614 and 12/070,799 may be desirable
depending upon the specific parameters and requirements of each
particular application.
[0046] As best seen FIGS. 7, 8 and 11-14, the head 36 has planar,
intersecting, self-sealing slits 50 which together define a closed
orifice when the valve 24 is closed. For the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 2-12, the slits 50 are normal to each other and equal in
length. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a preferred embodiment wherein
the slits 50 are normal to each other, but one of the slits 50 is
at least 50% longer than the other slit 50, and even more
preferable in the range of 4 or 5 times longer than the other slit
50 In the illustrated forms of the valve 24, the slits 50 define
four, generally sector-shaped, equally sized flaps or petals 51 in
the head 36. The flaps or petals 51 may be also characterized as
"openable regions" or "openable portions" of the valve head 36.
Each flap or petal 51 has a pair of diverging transverse faces
defined by the slits 50, and each transverse face seals against a
confronting transverse face of an adjacent petal 51 when the valve
24 is closed.
[0047] The valve 24 can be molded with the slits 50. Alternatively,
the valve slits 50 can be subsequently cut into the head 36 of the
valve 24 by suitable conventional techniques. However the slits 50
are formed, the orifice should be closed when the valve 24 is in an
unconstrained or as-molded condition. In operation, the petals 51
can be forced open outwardly in a first direction (toward the
exterior environment 30 in FIGS. 1-4) from the intersection point
of the slits 50 when a sufficient force (or pressure differential)
is applied to the interior side 40 of the valve head 36, or forced
open inwardly in a second direction (toward the interior volume 32
in FIGS. 1-4) from the intersection point of the slits 50 when a
sufficient force (or pressure differential) is applied to the
exterior side 38 of the head 36.
[0048] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an example of the valve 24 opening
in the first direction wherein a fluid inlet conduit or fill tool
52 has been inserted in the first direction in order to direct a
beverage into the interior volume 32 via a flow path 53 in the
conduit or fill tool 52. The open petals 51 accommodate the
penetration of the end of the fill tool 52 into the interior volume
32 of the container 21. The petals 51 seal around the periphery of
the fill tool 52 in a substantially liquid-tight manner. When the
fill tool 52 is withdrawn from the valve head 36 by movement in the
second direction, the inherent resiliency of the head 36 and petals
51 return the orifice to the closed condition.
[0049] The valve head 36 may also be characterized as having a
laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface 54 at the outer
periphery of the valve head 36. The surface 54 is sized and/or
shaped in its as-molded or unconstrained condition so that it is
compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the surface 34 of
the port 28, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A, with the phantom line
in FIG. 4A showing the unconstrained size and shape of surface 54
of the illustrated embodiment in comparison to the surface 34. This
laterally inward compression of the head 36 imposes a closing force
on the self-sealing slits 50 that increases the resistance of the
normally closed orifice to opening in at least the second direction
(toward the exterior environment 30 in FIGS. 1-4) when the valve
head 36 is subjected to an increased pressure differential acting
across the head 36 such as is caused by hydraulic hammer. It should
be noted that this is particularly advantageous in connection with
a system 20 wherein the valve head 36 is penetrated by a fill tool
52 and must return to the closed condition and resist hydraulic
hammer after the fill tool 52 is removed.
[0050] As best seen in FIG. 12, in the preferred, illustrated form,
the surface 54 is frusto-conical with a maximum diameter 56
adjacent the side 40 and a minimum diameter 58 adjacent a
peripheral attachment portion or flange 60 of the valve 24. The
maximum diameter 56 is greater than the diameter D of the surface
34. The minimum diameter 58 is preferably equal to the diameter D
of the surface 34, or just slightly less than the diameter D. While
it is believed that the illustrated frusto-conical shape provides a
superior closing force, other shapes and/or sizes for the surface
54 that create an interference fit with the surface 34 may be
desirable depending upon the particular requirements and parameters
of each application.
[0051] To accommodate mounting and retention of the valve 24, the
flange 60 preferably has a generally dovetail-shaped, transverse
cross section which defines a pair of frusto-conical surfaces 62
and 64, as best seen in FIG. 12. As best seen in FIG. 5, the port
structure 22 includes an annular seat 66 for matingly engaging the
axially inwardly facing frusto-conical surface 62 of the flange 60.
The mounting fitment or retainer 26 includes a retainer ring 68
which has an axially inwardly facing clamping surface 70 which is
adapted to matingly engage, and clamp against, the axially
outwardly facing frusto-conical surface 64 of the flange 60. A
lateral peripheral edge 72 of the retainer ring 68 can be
maintained in snap-fit engagement with an annular retaining bead 74
of the port structure 22 that is located axially outwardly from the
annular seat 66. The snap-fit engagement of the retainer ring 68
within the port structure 22 causes the ring 68 to clamp the valve
24 tightly in the port structure 22. The fitment 26 preferably also
includes a generally cylindrical wall 76 extending axially
outwardly from the retainer ring 68 to assist in assembly and
disassembly of the system 20.
[0052] During assembly, the retainer ring 68 can be pushed past the
retaining bead 74 because there is sufficient flexibility in the
retainer ring 68 and/or port structure 22 to accommodate temporary,
elastic deformation of the components as the retainer ring 68
passes over, and inwardly beyond, the bead 74 to create a snap-fit
engagement between the retainer ring 68 and port structure 22 such
that the valve flange 60 is compressed at least slightly and
clamped between the opposing frusto-conical surfaces 66 and 70
(FIG. 4). While a preferred form of mounting has been shown, the
port structure 22 and valve 24 could have other configurations,
such as a different shape for the mounting flange 60 and seat 66.
Also, in some other arrangements, the valve 24 could be held in the
port structure 22 without a retainer ring. For example, the valve
24 could be held in the port structure 22 by heat bonding, swaging
of a portion of the port structure 22 over the valve flange 60,
adhesive, and/or a press fit, etc.
[0053] The valve 24 is typically designed to close when the
pressure differential across the valve head 36 drops below a
predetermined amount. The inherent resiliency of the valve 24
allows the valve 24 to return to the normally closed condition (by
action of the force generated from the resilient valve's
deformational stresses). Preferably, the valve 24 is sufficiently
stiff in its unconstrained condition so that it would remain closed
under the weight or static head of the substance in the container
bearing against the interior side 40 even without the closing force
generated by engagement of the surfaces 34 and 54.
[0054] It is to be understood that the orifice of the valve 24 may
be defined by structures other than the illustrated straight slits
50. The slits may have various different shapes, sizes and/or
configurations in accordance with the requirements and parameters
of each particular application. For example, the orifice may also
include four or more intersecting slits.
[0055] If it is desired to provide particular performance
characteristics, then the system 20 is preferably configured for
use in conjunction with (1) the characteristics or shape of the
particular container, which may establish the maximum height (i.e.,
static head) of the substance or product in the container as well
as the maximum anticipated hydraulic hammer, (2) the
characteristics of the particular substance or product to be held
within the container, and (3) any relevant characteristics of the
other components, such as the fill tool 52. For example, the
viscosity and density of the fluent substance product can be
relevant factors in designing the specific configuration of the
system 20 and valve 24. The rigidity and durometer of the valve
material, and size and shape of the valve head 36, can also be
relevant to achieving some desired characteristics, and can be
selected for accommodating the normal range of pressure
differential that is expected to be typically applied across the
valve head 36, and for accommodating the characteristics of the
substance to be held in the container.
[0056] It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed
description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof
that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected
without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel
concepts or principles of this invention.
* * * * *